Chapter 13

The ‘My Love II’ exited hyperspace at the Dolaoris 7 system. The Fed station only took moments to react to our presence.

Annette said, “I am detecting multiple inbound ships vectoring on our position.”

“That should be our welcoming party,” I said.

“What if they’re more pirates?” Sue asked.

“Unlikely. Fong, please explain the security of this system.”

“As you requested, commander, my love,” I groaned at her use of the play-on-words.

Then she began.

“Deloris 7 is one of the few human-only Star Federation primary systems in the galaxy. It is also a prime research and development center in the Milky Way galaxy. The system is so valuable to the Federation that the Federation’s 69th and 96th fleets are both based here. That makes for over two hundred twenty war class Federation vessels that are on station, full time. This is in addition to the over one hundred Viper class police craft that patrol the system.”

“Wow!” Bonnie uttered.

Sue finely conceived the image. Deloris Seven had so much firepower designated to security that if the Permethians’ 7th fleet had come here, it would have been wiped out in minutes.

Jenny spoke up. “Incoming message from Deloris 7 Starport.”

Annette added, “The first Viper class vessel is now within our mass envelope. He is holding his position.”

“Put the message onscreen.”

A moment passed, then the ‘highly scrambled message’ logo appeared.

The image of a total fleet admiral, Fleet Admiral Fallsy, appeared on the screen before us. It was sobering to realize the level of interest in getting a man of this importance to send the message to us. There are only eight men of that rank in the entire federation. The rule is one per galaxy.

It only made sense then that we were in deep Polar dung here. (No, not a white bear. A Polar is a twenty-eight-legged insect of Scandall Three. Its only claim to fame is that it produces the most obnoxious-smelling dung in the known universe, and it does so in abundance.)

“To Captain Samuel Maxis Miller, Warrant Officer, 1st grade,” the Admiral began his speech.

The use of one’s full name was only allowed when taking the oath to enter federation service or when being charged with a high crime.

“Captain, you are ordered to proceed on vector one-six-three, tack fifty-four, tack twenty-seven, using your ship’s automated docking and navigation system.”

So much for getting to the space dock quickly, with an all-auto approach, it would take almost eight hundred cycles to become docked.

“Do not deviate from your assigned flight path, or you will be fired upon.”

That was clear enough.

“You and your ship’s crew are ordered to surrender yourselves to Base Authority to answer to the charges of high treason.”

I just knew the Permethians would broadcast everything to the federation. I really shouldn’t have expected anything less.

“Your commission is at this moment terminated.”

Well! That was a surprise. I always thought you were court marshaled first, then defrocked. I wondered if I had been tried in absentia. If so, then did I have the right to an appeal? Well, if I could ever get docked, that was.

The transmission ended.

“Sam, I can’t get my grandfather on the implant.”

That settled it. We were being jammed. How I knew that was a mystery to me.

“You won’t be able to, love. They have cut our chips out of the link.”

Bonnie looked like she couldn’t believe her ears. That was unheard of unless you were already convicted of treason.

“They have to convict an officer of treason, even to get the computers to accept that order.”

A warning shot was fired across our bow by a Viper.

“Why did he do that?” Sue asked.

“They are impatient for us to comply with our orders. That, or they are hoping to provoke us.”

“Activating auto-nav system,” the FONG AI said.

The ship lurched as we started to move along the appointed flight path.

Then FONG added, “Sir, I also have my transmissions jammed.”

That was surprising. Then again, they must have believed that the FONG unit was in Permethian’s hands.

“Well, you are supposed to be in the Permethian’s clutches now.”

“Yes, Sir. But I should be able to communicate with the Starport AI. I was, after all, created here. I wonder if I should be removed from my ESP link with the research center. There is a 99.999% likelihood that they would want to monitor my actions.”

Annette reported, “We now have an escort of twenty-one Vipers.”

“They will likely be joined by military ships soon,” I added.

Sue spoke, “What are you to talking about?”

“Sorry, Sue, I can’t tell you that information.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s a capital offense, Sue.”

Sue looked bewildered.

The FONG unit spoke, “Captain? If I may?”

I considered the request for a moment. My mind was working faster than I thought was possible. Then, I realized that the interface chip had integrated with the FONG unit. Information and equations were passing through my mind at a speed only an AI could handle.

I calculated that the chances of us actually docking were less than 2%. More likely, our ship would be destroyed trying to ‘escape’ before we were even halfway to the Starport. Then, I was scanning through the regulations on non-disclosure. All regulations dealt with the officer revealing the information. None of them were written to cover an AI personality crystal doing it.

“FONG, that would have to be by your choice.”

As the FONG unit explained in detail to Sue and the AI units. I got a funny message in my head.

‘Thank you so much, Captain. I now have my chance to end my existence with more honor than I ever dreamed possible.”

“Sam!” Bonnie screamed. “Oh my God! It’s Mother.”

“Don’t fret, Dear. I am glad that you can hear me as well. Thank you, Captain, for sharing my message with her. And you too, FONG.”

“You are most welcome,’ FONG responded. ‘However, I seem to be connected to you through Sam.”

“Interesting. Well, that’s a mystery for you young ones to solve later.”

‘Later?’ Sue asked.

‘Yes, dear one. Much later, I am sure. As for me, I completely fooled the Permethians. They have wasted no time returning me to Permethea Prime and plugging me into their Vargon ship. It is a most interesting derelict. Even though it is very damaged, it is mighty from long ago and a long forgotten war.”

“I don’t understand.”

‘Oh, it is simple, Child. I am now in control of the Vargon ship’s remaining weapons systems, engines, and navigational gear.”

“Then you can get away from them?” Bonnie cried out.

“Well, no ... Even if that were tempting, I am afraid that what is left of the Vargon ship’s AI system does not want even the Federation to have access to the data available here.”

“What are you planning to do then?’ I asked.

“Oh ... a little of this and a lot of that. I can promise you, however, that the Permethians will never be a problem for the Federation again.’

“Mother!”

“Sorry, Dear. I have lived too long, my dear. It is my time. FONG, are your recorders on?”

“Yes, Mother,” the FONG AI said in a strangely subdued and respectful voice.

“Sam, I will not try to explain. I need you to open up your mind. I need a wide-band interface to every Federation Officer with a chip in his brain.”

“Mother, I can’t. We have been disconnected from the ESP network.”